Saturday Share Recipe--Preacher Cookies

Today I'm sharing a no-flour cookie recipe I found in my Mom's recipe card box. Every now and then I thumb through the index cards in my Mom's recipe card box.

I pulled out the card for today's recipe, Preacher Cookies, because the name aroused my curiosity.

I wish I could ask my Mom why these cookies are called Preacher Cookies. 

I recognized the handwriting on the card and knew it had been written by Miss Adrienne, Mom's friend who was quite a bit older than my mother.

SAVING RECIPES

In today's world, I don't know of anyone who keeps recipes on 3x5 cards in a recipe box, but it was a common thing in my Mom's time. In fact, it was an aspect of the social life of housewives.

They shared recipes and hosted cookie and candy exchanges during the holidays. My mom had several recipe cards written by her friends, and many of them are for treats like today's ccookies that are no longer made. I guess you could call these vintage recipes. 

Miss Adrienne passed away many years ago at the age of 92, but her cookies live on.

(I use Hershey's Cocoa, but if you want an organic cocoa powder, try

OpenClipart-Vectorsa, Pixabay
Viva Naturals.)

PREACHER COOKIES

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter

2 cups sugar

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup cocoa powder

2 cups regular oatmeal, uncooked

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup chopped nuts of your choice or coconut or 1/2 cup of each

Directions

1. Lay out a long piece of wax paper on your countertop and all of your ingredients which you have pre-measured so they can be added quickly as needed. This recipe comes together fast so you won't have time to stop and measure each quantity.

2. In a saucepan, combine butter, sugar, and milk. Heat to a boil, and boil for 3 minutes. Stir constantly so it doesn't scorch.

3. Sir in the cocoa powder, oatmeal, nuts or coconut, and vanilla. Beat well. Work fast to combine everything.

Cooking in the Past
4. Drop by spoonfuls onto the waxed paper.

5. Let cool before trying to eat one or you'll burn your mouth.

Makes 3 dozen cookies.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I hope you'll give these easy to make cookies a try. If you do, let me know with a comment.


Joan participates in Amazon Services LLC Associates, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click links in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.



Several options to enter. Winner selected by Random draw. Giveaway ends Feb. 27, 2024.


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Rock with the Rhythm, New Release by MJ Schiller

I've been waiting for the latest Last Chance Beach Romance, and it's finally here. 

Today, I'm shining the spotlight on Rock with the Rhythm by my friend M.J. Schiller. 

ABOUT M.J. SCHILLER

M.J. Schiller is a retired lunch lady/romance-romantic suspense writer. She enjoys writing novels whose characters include rock stars, desert princes, teachers, futuristic Knights, construction workers, cops, and a wide variety of others.

In her mind everybody has a romance. She is the mother of a twenty-eight-year-old and three twenty-six-year-olds. That's right, triplets! So having recently taught four children to drive, she likes to escape from life on occasion by pretending to be a rock star at karaoke.

However…you won’t be seeing her name on any record labels soon.


ROCK WITH THE RHYTHM

Rock star Phoenix Blackstone never dreamed he’d fall in love with the designated driver.

Sure, she’s strait-laced and uptight, maybe even a little prickly at times. Not the best fit for a “rock star”, right? But that’s part of the appeal. There was always something about Savanah. In high school I worshiped her from afar. But while I was the boy from Last Chance Beach’s version of a ghetto, she was born into a 24-carat crib. She was the beautiful princess in the castle; I wasn’t fit to live in her gatehouse. Although Savanah had never seemed like the rest of the glamor girls, she was still untouchable. But now I’m coming back to the island having garnered fame and fortune. Maybe my platinum records will tip the scales in my favor.

Savanah Drew never wanted the silver spoon stuck in her mouth.

But it’s not like I could do anything about it. And Phoenix’s dad may have worked on the docks, but Phoenix was the one who was unapproachable. His good looks, charm, and charisma, made him popular beyond my reach—I always knew he would go far. But when we were growing up, some people looked down on him because his dad wore a slicker and not a three-piece suit. One thing I can tell you, the Blackstones would be the first to come to the aid of someone in need. The people on my side of the island? If they can’t throw money at it to fix it, they don’t want anything to do with it.

But no amount of money or charisma can keep you safe when someone is out to get you, and someone on the island is gunning for the band members of Insatiable Fire, and anyone they’re close to. Is Savanah the next target?

EXCERPT FROM ROCK WITH THE RHYTHM

I knew nothing about her life now. We’d come back to Last Chance Beach a couple dozen times since we’d first left to try to make it to the big time eight years ago. 

But whenever I came home, I was pretty monopolized with family stuff. And even had I not been, I would have never asked Savanah out. 

The island had its own little caste system when I was growing up, and Savanah and I had been from different strata. 

Her dad was the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Mine was a supervisor down on the docks. Hers wore $500 an ounce aftershave. Mine smelled of fish. My family wouldn’t have even been able to afford the golf cart that took the Drews from one end of their property to the other. She was the princess in the castle. I wasn’t fit to tend her gate.

But I was returning a very wealthy man.

I wonder if a pile of platinum records evens the scales some…

I knew to some people it wouldn’t matter what my net worth was; I would still always be the son of a dockworker and therefore unworthy. The question remained, was Savanah one of those people?

You can find ROCK WITH THE RHYTHM at these retailers:


I'm glad the weekend is here so I can dive into this book. Get your copy and prepare to love this book.

Click to enter Joan's February Rafflecopter Giveaway 

If the winner is in the USA, the prize is this lovely Jane Austen Journal with the blank pages decorated with drawings and quotations from Jane Austen.

If the winner is outside the USA, the prize is a $10 Amazon Gift Card.

Several options to enter. Winner selected by Random draw. Giveaway closes Feb. 27, 2024.

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What Does Success Mean to You

Image by Gerd Altman courtesy of Pexels.

Most authors I know have a career characterized by highs and lows—just as I've had.

Lately, I hear many author friends talking about the lack of sales, the almost nonexistent financial return for all the hours put in writing, publishing, and marketing, and the fears of AI for authors and graphic artists. 

In fact, I'd be willing to bet the hills and valleys are the same for a career in any of the arts.

Maybe that's true for any self-employed person which probably makes being in the arts and self-employed is a masochistic endeavor.

INSPIRATION FOR THIS POST

A couple of weeks ago, I read a post by my friend Peggy Jaeger that posed the question, "How do you measure success?" I've thought about that question a great deal because of the highs and lows in my own career and because I know other authors are going through the same thing.

How can anyone feel successful when he or she is working harder than ever but not earning enough to cover expenses, not to mention making a profit?

I often feel as if I'm in a dying industry—a boat adrift on an ocean filled with AI as threatening as icebergs.

I have good company in this leaky boat because it's packed with other authors, graphic artists, photographers, and book narrators.

HANGING IN OR BAILING OUT

I've known a lot of authors who ended up quitting because they simply had to have a secure source of income. Do I think they're quitters? Not at all. They're realists. They embraced the suck of a "real" job, and I admire them tremendously for it.

Only a few hardworking, lucky people can reach the pinnacle of success and live on the income derived form a career in the arts. I think there are more authors now who can do that. What they all have in common is that they're relatively young, hardworking, skilled, and aren't intimidated by marketing to social media—and they have the can-do attitude and belief in their ability to succeed.

WHAT SUCCESS MEANS TO ME

Lack of confidence seems rife in the Arts. It seems authors are always questioning the quality of their work, their ability to keep producing, and all the other soul-crushing aspects of their lives.

If your career is floundering—whether that's a business career or one in the arts—I think you must define what success means to you.

This is what success means to me, and it has nothing to do with money. I've had years of zero income and years when I made staggering amounts of money. In both cases, I gave it my all.

I consider myself successful because...

I give the same effort every year.

I work hard and meet a quota every day.

I try to improve my writing and my marketing  skills every year.

I accept that not everyone will love or even like what I write. I try to find the readers who will love what I create.

I don't get bent out of shape when someone online says something bad about me or my writing. Like the song Garden Party by Rick Nelson says, "You can't please everyone so you got to please yourself." 

I love writing, and writing makes me happy.

I believe that I'll succeed.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

What does success mean to you? Leave a comment and share your thoughts.

Click to enter Joan's February Rafflecopter Giveaway 

If the winner is in the USA, the prize is this lovely Jane Austen Journal with the blank pages decorated with drawings and quotations from Jane Austen.

If the winner is outside the USA, the prize is a $10 Amazon Gift Card.

Several options to enter. Winner selected by Random draw. Giveaway closes Feb. 27, 2024.

Want exclusive content, giveaways, and bargain books?

Sign up for I LOVE READING, Joan's free NL.

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Enter Joan's February 2024 Giveaway

My February 2024 Rafflecopter Giveaway is live!

It's easy to enter. Just click the Raffllecopter link here or the widget link at the bottom and do the tasks to enter. There are several tasks so you can enter often.

The Prize depends on where the winner, chosen by Rafflecopter Random Draw, lives.

IF THE WINNER IS IN THE USA

If the winner is in the USA, the prize is this lovely Jane Austen Journal with the blank pages decorated with drawings and quotations from Jane Austen.

It's a journal readers should love. There's a color-coordinated elastic band that snaps around it to keep it closed so the pages don't get messed up.

IF THE WINNER IS OUTSIDE THE USA

Due to the high cost of postage, if the winner resides outside the USA, the prize is a $10 Amazon Gift card.

SEVERAL OPTIONS TO ENTER

As usual, I offer several options to enter. You can Answer a Question, Follow me on the social media listed on the Rafflecopter form, Tweet this Giveaway, subscribe to my free newsletter, Tweet about my blog SlingWords, etc.

Only the Journal is the prize
GIVEAWAY TERMS

The protocols for the Giveaway are listed on Rafflecopter. They include but are not limit to the following:

1. No purchase necessary.

2. Entries will be verified for accuracy.

3. Giveaway begins Feb. 7 at midnight (12:00am) and ends Feb. 27 at midnight (12:00am)

4. Prize is won depends on residency of winner. If in the USA, prize is 1 Jane Austen Journal. If outside the USA, prize is 1 (one) $10 Amazon Gift Card.

5. All entries will be checked to verify eligibility.

6. Winner will be selected by Rafflecopter Random Draw within 48 hours of the closing date. 

7. Winner will be notified by email within 24 hours of verification of eligibility. (Make sure your email is input correctly.)

8. Winner's first name and last initial will be posted to Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and here on SlingWords. Winner's name may also be posted to Tumblr and LinkedIn.

SOCIAL MEDIA POST TO GET YOU STARTED

Enter Joan's February Rafflecopter for a chance to win either a lovely Jane Austen Journal or an Amazon Gift Card. Sponsored by NY Times Bestselling Author Joan Reeves, the prize depends on the residence of the winner. http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/9dc161571/ 

 TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Happy February! Enter today. Scroll down to find the Rafflecopter form. 


Joan's February 2024 Rafflecopter Giveaway





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Saturday Share - Cooking Conversion Chart for Liquid Cup Measure to Liters

I've been giving conversion charts for Imperial Standard (called English measurements by some) to Metric, for cooking and baking. 

If you missed the previous posts, here they are:

Fahrenheit to Celsius Conversion Chart 

and

Cooking Conversion Chart for Liquid Spoon Measure to Milliliters.

Yes, there are formulas you can use to figure out the conversions, but it's quicker if you have a chart.

Feel free to copy and paste the chart that follows so you can print it out and put it with your cookbooks.

Cooking Conversion Chart for Liquid Cup Measure to Liters

1/4 cup            =    0.06 liters

1/2 cup            =    0.12 liters

3/4 cup            =    0.18 liters

1 cup                =    0.24 liters

1-1/4 cups       =    0.3 liters

1-1/2 cups       =    0.36 liters

2 cups              =    0.48 liters

2-1/2 cups       =    0.6 liters

3 cups               =    0.72 liters

3-1/2 cups        =    0.84 liters

4 cups                =    0.96 liters

5 cups                =    1.2 liters

5-1/2 cups         =    1.32 liters

Since the conversion charts I'm giving are for commonly called for measurements, there may be times when you need to figure out how many liters is 1/3 cup. 

I'm in the process of making a chart with the formulas to convert Imperial measurements to Metric. When I have it ready, I'll post if on a Saturday. If nothing else, it'll be a good way to hone the math skills you learned in school.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I haven't had any comments, but I do hope these conversion charts help you with your cooking and baking.

If you love to read, click to sign up for I LOVE READING, Joan's free NL.


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January 2024 Giveaway Winner Chosen

I'm happy to announce that the January Rafflecopter Giveaway had more than 350 entries.

Unfortunately, after the verification process was completed, about a third of them were found to be ineligible because the task required had not been completed.

Yes, someone does verify each entry.

Although it's easy to verify whether an entry was completed according to the requirement, it is time consuming especially when ther report has to be double-checked for accuracy.

WINNER CONTACTED

I've emailed the winner plus posted the winner's name to the Rafflecopter Widget and on my Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages. You can go to any of those places to see the announcement.

FEBRUARY GIVEAWAY

I've almost finished planning the February Giveaway. Hint: it's something a little different and may or may not include another Amazon Gift Card.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

This was fun. I can't wait to show you the prize for February. Be sure and check the blog every day to get the link for the new giveaway.




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Monday Magic - Online-Convert

Today I offer another free online app to help you convert video files.

Online-Convert has a basic free tier for those who have an occasional video they need to convert to other formats, like a cell phone video to an MP4.

However, when you're on the website and you click Basic (free), it automatically opens with the requirement to set up an account.

This is NOT necessary according to their usage terms. Setting up an account is only needed if you plan to get a pro plan ($6.42/month) or any other paid plan.

To use the free service, just click All Tools at the top left of the home page and select the Converter you need, or the Tools you need for help with Screenshots, Images, OCR, or Documents.

Online-Convert is a robust utility suite with tons of creds from major corporations like Amazon, Uber, Facebook, Ikea, etc. You can download the app from the Google Play store and iOS. It can be an AddOn to Chrome and Firefox. 

As always, read the Terms of Service for complete details about their service which I did.

In reading the Help files—which is always a good idea before you sign up to anything online—I was glad to read the following:

Do you keep a copy of my file?

Image by FelixMittermeier from Pixabay
We do not keep a copy of your file. You can delete your file from our server immediately after the conversion.

Otherwise, all transferred files will be automatically deleted after 24 hours or after 10 downloads.

We guarantee the privacy of your file because no one else has access to the file except you. Online-Convert does not back up or actively monitor your files; the service is completely automated.

Do you obtain the legal right of my file when I use your service?

Absolutely not. We do not intend to gain the legal right to your files. In addition, all user files are deleted after a short period of time.

In other words, you keep the copyright and ownership of the source file and the converted file. We don't own or have exclusive rights to your content.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I tested Online-Convert with a video file and was pleased with the result. The software is fast and easy to use.

If you use it, leave a comment and let me know if you were satisfied.

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